Chapter 298

The morning sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the penthouse, casting golden streaks across the marble floors. Evelyn stretched lazily, her fingers brushing against the empty space beside her. Nathaniel had already left for work, as usual.

She sighed, rolling onto her back and staring at the intricate ceiling design she had sketched years ago. The memory of their first argument over it flashed in her mind—how stubborn he had been, insisting on a more traditional approach, while she had fought for something modern and bold.

Her phone buzzed, snapping her out of her thoughts. A message from Gregory lit up the screen:

"Meeting at 10. Client wants revisions. Again."

Evelyn groaned. The Kensington project had been dragging on for months, with the client changing their mind every other week. She tossed the phone aside and swung her legs over the edge of the bed.

Downstairs, Alfred was setting breakfast on the terrace. The scent of freshly brewed coffee and buttery croissants filled the air.

"Good morning, Mrs. Martin," he greeted with a slight bow.

"Morning, Alfred," she murmured, rubbing her temples.

"Mr. Martin left early. He mentioned a board meeting."

Evelyn nodded absently, stirring her coffee. She didn’t need to ask—Nathaniel’s schedule was always packed. Between the Martin Group’s expansion and his grandfather’s relentless expectations, he barely had time to breathe.

Her phone buzzed again. This time, it was Isabella.

"We need to talk. It’s urgent."

Evelyn’s fingers tightened around the phone. Isabella had been a ghost from the past, resurfacing at the worst possible moments. She had no idea what the woman wanted now, but she wasn’t in the mood for games.

Ignoring the message, she scrolled through her emails instead. One from Summit Realty caught her eye—Sebastian Wilson, their CEO, requesting a meeting to discuss a potential collaboration.

Interesting.

She tapped her fingers against the table, considering. A new project might be exactly what she needed to distract herself from the mess at work—and whatever drama Isabella was about to stir up.

But first, she had to deal with Gregory and the never-ending Kensington revisions.

With a deep breath, she finished her coffee and stood. The day was just beginning, and she already felt exhausted.

Little did she know, the real storm was yet to come.

Nathaniel's brow furrowed slightly. "I'm the CEO, and so are you. Can't we call it a day early?"

"Mr. Martin, my firm isn't as large as yours. I can't afford to be as whimsical," Evelyn countered, her tone dry.

"I'm already on my way out. Be downstairs in ten minutes, alright?" Nathaniel didn’t leave room for hesitation.

Evelyn exhaled softly before murmuring, "Fine." Then, hesitating, she added, "Are you worried I’ll stress over the Mitchell family’s situation?"

"Let’s discuss it in person."

"Alright."

Hanging up, Evelyn clutched her phone for a moment, then quietly sighed. She turned back to her desk, packed her laptop, and slung her bag over her shoulder.

Just as she stepped out of her office, she nearly collided with Gregory, who was heading her way. His eyebrows lifted. "Leaving already?"

"Something came up."

"Is it about the Mitchells?"

Evelyn nodded. The scandal had been plastered across every financial outlet—there was no avoiding it.

Gregory’s expression darkened. "What’s your plan? Maybe you should talk to Nathaniel about reinstating the partnership. That could pull the Mitchell Group out of this mess."

Evelyn’s lips thinned. "Gregory, do you really think a single collaboration with the Martins will magically fix everything?"

"Of course. Isn’t that obvious?"

She shook her head, a wry smile touching her lips. "It’s not that simple. If the Mitchell Group collapses just because they lost one partner, then their foundation was never stable to begin with. A corporation should stand on its own—not crumble without external support."

Her voice had risen without her realizing it, frustration bleeding through. Catching herself, she lowered her gaze. "Sorry. I didn’t mean to snap."

Gregory waved it off. "No, you’re right. I was oversimplifying things. I just thought it’d be easier to address the deeper issues after stabilizing their immediate crisis."

"I get it. But the Mitchell Group’s problems aren’t new. They’ve been buried for years. No single deal will erase that."

Before she could continue, her phone buzzed in her bag. She pulled it out, glanced at the screen, and declined the call without hesitation.

"I should go," she said, offering Gregory a tight smile.

"Of course. And Evelyn—if you need anything, just ask. We’re friends. No need to hold back."

"Thanks." With that, she strode past him, unaware of the shadow that crossed his face the moment her back was turned.

The elevator ride down was silent. Outside, Nathaniel’s car idled at the curb. Samuel stepped out promptly, opening the rear door for her.

Sliding in, Nathaniel arched a brow. "You took your time."

"Got held up talking." She didn’t elaborate, rubbing her temple briefly before turning to him. "What do you think really caused the Mitchell Group’s downfall?"